Ones To Watch: 5 Emerging Stars

With Hollywood and Actors on everyone’s minds this week, we wanted to shine some light on 5 emerging young stars we feel you should keep your eye on. You may have – or may have not – seen them in the past, but you will definitely be seeing them in 2011.

Greta Gerwig
Age: 27
From:
California
How You Know Her: Her breakout role in Ben Stiller’s critically-acclaimed box office flop Greenberg last year garnered her an Independent Spirit nod for best actress.
Notable Factor:
Since 2010, she’s been on every critic’s radar, landing supporting parts in bigger films like the money-making Portman-Kutcher comedy No Strings Attached. She’s also dabbled in writing and directing, recently starring in the improv film Northern Comfort.
Up Next: Catch her alongside Russell Brand and Jennifer Garner in the remake of ’80s cult classic Arthur hitting theatres in April.

Allen Altman
Age: At least legal drinking age
From: Montreal
How You Know Him: HBO Canada’s Living In Your Car.
Notable Factor:
Altman co-starred in two TIFF films in 2010: The Oscar-nominated Incendies (Roger Ebert’s pick for Best Foreign Language Film) and the short Above The Knee. Both films earned him serious hometown glory.
Up Next:
The second season of Living In Your Car debuts this summer on HBO. 

Michelle Williams Age: 30
From: Montana
How You Know Her:
As part of the brat pack from the turn-of-the-millennium teen series Dawson’s Creek. Also, Heath Ledger’s ex-wife.
Notable Factor:
Up until she starred opposite Ledger in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain, Williams made movie after movie after movie. Since then, she’s chosen wisely and landed among the most serious actresses of our generation – no easy feat for a former teen star, given Hollywood’s track record. The girl is now a two-time Oscar nominee, including one for best actress in this year’s Blue Valentine.
Up Next:
Starring as the blonde ’50s icon in My Week with Marilyn with Emma Watson and Judi Dench. 

Nicholas Hoult
Age:
21
From:
England
How You Know Him:
As the charming boy in the Hugh Grant flick About A Boy – yeah, the one from like a decade ago. He’s also a big-time model in campaigns by Tom Ford.
Notable Factor:
After a supporting and seductive role in fashion designer Ford’s first film, A Single Man, young Hoult made the leap into mainstream stardom, starring in 2010’s action blockbuster Clash of the Titans. He’s also had a lead role in the almost x-rated British TV-turned-MTV knockoff-turned-movie Skins.
Up Next:
Another franchise star in the making, Hoult plays Beast in X-Men: First Class, out in June. 

Andrew Garfield
Age:
27
From:
American-born, British-raised
How You Know Him:
As the ousted co-founder of Facebook in The Social Network.
Notable Factor:
2010 was Garfield’s year. Aside from his award-winning performance in the FB flick, he starred opposite Hollywood darlings Kiera Knightley and Carey Mulligan in Never Let Me Go, where he picked up a BFATA (British Oscar) Rising Star award.
Up Next:
He’s the new Spiderman! Alongside now-blonde bombshell Emma Stone, look for the new Peter Parker to dominate theatres in the new franchise throughout the decade. For the most exclusive and robust Oscar info we suggest checking out our colleagues over at Cineplex.com.